Influence of potassium and manganese on growth and uptake of magnesium by soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Bragg)

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr. cv. Bragg) seedlings were grown in nutrient solutions to evaluate the response to manganese nutrition as affected by potassium supply. In solutions containing 275 μM manganese, increasing the solution concentration of potassium from 1 mM to 10 mM alleviated symptoms of manganese toxicity, decreased manganese concentrations in the leaves and increased dry matter yields of the plants. The reduction in manganese toxicity was brought about by a reduced rate of root absorption of manganese at high potassium supply levels. Increasing the supply of either potassium or manganese decreased the leaf concentration of magnesium although there were no apparent symptoms of magnesium deficiency in any treatment. The reduced concentration of magnesium in the leaves was due to effects of potassium and manganese on the rate of root absorption of magnesium. Under manganese deficiency conditions, growth was reduced and manganese concentrations in plant parts were very low; there was no effect of potassium supply when manganese was absent from the nutrient solution.